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New Notebook:  SXGA+ vs XGA

Posted on 2004-03-08
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Last Modified: 2013-11-17
I purchased a new IBM T41 notebook with SXGA+ (1400X1050).  I am considering exchanging it for an XGA (1024X768) screen.  My logic is:

1.  Although I have set the DPI to 160% to enlarge the text, many web pages either have items that will not enlarge at all, or do not retain their formatting properly when enlarged.

2.  I could set the resolution lower, but lower resolutions are not as clear since 1400X1050 is the native resolution.


3.  If I desire to switch from the laptop screen at 1400X1050 to an exteranal LCD monitor,  it will be necessary to manually change the Windows resolution to 1280X1024, which is the maximum resolution of the external LCD monitor.

4.  If I have an XGA notebook screen, I would have crisp images in the native 1024X768 resolution and would reduce the problems reading web pages.  In addition, I could switch to my external LCD monitor without having to adjust the Windows resolution setting.  All I would give up is the ability to use the higher resolutions on my notebook screen for the occasional DVD or photo, but this seems like a reasonable trade off.

Please let me know if this makes sense.
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Question by:jseverson
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11 Comments
 
LVL 69

Accepted Solution

by:
Callandor earned 200 total points
ID: 10544984
Most people desire more resolution, and are willing to pay extra for it.  If you have compared the two and it is better to your eyes to have XGA, then that's fine.

3 & 4) Your external monitor resolution can be set independently of the laptop resolution, so don't use that for reasons.
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Author Comment

by:jseverson
ID: 10545054
How do people overcome the size and formatting problems with viewing web pages at high resolution?
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Author Comment

by:jseverson
ID: 10545070
Also, how can the external montior resolution be set independently of the laptop resolution?
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Assisted Solution

by:dpctechhelp
dpctechhelp earned 100 total points
ID: 10545824
On a laptop screen it is often difficult for you to read with higher resolutions. Often with the higher rez screens you are limited to whatever rez the screen needs but you might not be able to see the small fonts.

Sometimes lower resolution then reccomended look blotchy.
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LVL 5

Assisted Solution

by:mrpez1
mrpez1 earned 200 total points
ID: 10545873
There are some utilities that will increase text and Icon sizes:

http://personalcomputing.portrait.com/us/products/lv_overview.html
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LVL 69

Expert Comment

by:Callandor
ID: 10546641
"Also, how can the external montior resolution be set independently of the laptop resolution"

If your laptop comes with software that allows you to customize the LCD screen and the external monitor, you can set the LCD to be one resolution and the external monitor to be another.  This is especially true of laptops geared towards presentation, so that digital projectors use the correct resolution.
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Author Comment

by:jseverson
ID: 10546724
Thanks!
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Expert Comment

by:janshim
ID: 11556428
I use a Dell Inspiron 8500's GeForce 4 with a high resolution 1680 x 1050 widescreen LCD. Attached to the notebook is a DELL UltraSharp 17" LCD 1280 x 1024  that I alternative between photo editing, instant messaging, email and web page design. It's been a few years now since laptops have been fitted with Dual View capable graphics cards. I have found when it comes to Font size (DPI) adjustments, use either DEFAULT (96 DPI) or LARGE (120 DPI). Anything in between some applications start behaving weird including Microsoft's own OFFICE (Excel is one that I've noticed and gets very annoying). I had mine set to 118% and right-clicking | Format Cell on Excel Cell wouldn't show all of the tabs. The same also happened to System Mechanic, a registry cleaner where the OK button would be off centre and I had had to navigate using the TAB key on the keyboard to highlight the OK button.


Jan Shim
www.janshim.com 
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Expert Comment

by:loganb2003
ID: 12510414
I have a problems displaying dual independant screen resolutions over 2 LCD screens. I have an IBM T42p with the ATI Radeon Mobility 9600 video card using Windows XP. The laptop screen is a 15" 1400x1050, my external monitor's native resolution is 1280x1024. I can not get both screens to display their native resolutions at the same time, I can get one or the other, but I have to change the settings manually. Is there a way to do this? What can I do. The question below relates to the same issue I think but I don't know what software can do this.

Please help.



Q/ "Also, how can the external montior resolution be set independently of the laptop resolution"

A/ If your laptop comes with software that allows you to customize the LCD screen and the external monitor, you can set the LCD to be one resolution and the external monitor to be another.  This is especially true of laptops geared towards presentation, so that digital projectors use the correct resolution.

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LVL 69

Expert Comment

by:Callandor
ID: 12510535
loganb2003,

If the solution didn't work for you, you need to post your own question.  Other experts can pitch in if you do this.
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Expert Comment

by:loganb2003
ID: 12510556
Sure I just did I was unsure how this forum worked thanks.
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